Catullus 40
| The Roman poet Catullus |
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Poems (Carmina) |
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Catullus 40 is a poem by the Roman poet Catullus, intended to humiliate and threaten Ravidus, who attempted to woo Catullus' own love.
The meter of this poem is hendecasyllabic, a common form in Catullus' poetry.
Latin text and translation
| Literal English Translation | Original Latin | Line |
|---|---|---|
| <poem>
What bad mind, wretched little Ravidus, drives you headfirst into my iambs? What god summoned not well prepares to rouse a demented fight? But as you arrive into the mouths of the crowd? What do you want? By any means do you wish to be known? You will be, seeing as how my loves you wished to love with a long penalty.</poem> |
<poem>
Quaenam te mala mens, miselle Ravide, agit praecipitem in meos iambos? Quis deus tibi non bene advocatus vecordem parat excitare rixam? An ut pervenias in ora vulgi? Quis vis? Qualubet esse notus optas? Eris, quandoquidem meos amores cum longa voluisti amare poena.</poem> |
<poem>
40.1 40.2 40.3 40.4 40.5 40.6 40.7 40.8</poem> |
Bibliography
- Forsyth, PY (1984). "The Lady and the Poem: Catullus 36-42". Classical Journal 80: 24–26.
- Hendrickson, GL (1925). "Archilochus and Catullus". Classical Philology 20: 156–157.
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